Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1909 — ACQUITTAL IN ERB CASE [ARTICLE]

ACQUITTAL IN ERB CASE

General Shedding of Tears Follows Announcement of Verdict. Media, Pa., Jan. B.—Mrs. M. Florence Erb, widow of Captain J. Clayton Erb, who was well known in political circles all over Pennsylvania, and her sister, Mrs. Catherine Beisel, who were charged with the sensational murder of Captain Erb on the night of Oct 6, 1908, were acquitted. After the jury had been out nearly eighteen hours it brought in a verdict of not guilty. The jury was not polled and after Judge Johnson bad thanked them, Mrs. Erb hurried from her seat to Dickinson, the foreman, and wrung his hand. Mrs. Beisel did likewise, and they shook the bands of the twelve men. Tears stood in the* eyes of most of them, and the thanks of the women were sobbed out in broken syllables.